United want Berahino and are prepared to break their transfer record to broker the deal. And BBC pundit Kevin Kilbane reckons the move is just a matter of Jeremy Peace agreeing a fee with Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.

Berahino missed Albion’s FA Cup game against Bristol City through illness and Pulis acknowledged afterwards that the decision would be down to his chairman.

“As much as it’s the player, it’s the financial deal and like I say, we’ll leave it with Jeremy to sort it. He was playing (against Bristol City). If he hadn’t been ill, he’d have been playing.”

On 5Live, pundit Kilbane said it looked likely that he would move – with Newcastle now the most likely destination.

Kilbane said: “It didn’t suit West Brom in the summertime, did it?

“West Brom didn’t feel as though Tottenham were acting in the best interests of their club – they didn’t want it to go through. Berahino this season hasn’t been the player that we’ve seen in recent seasons. That might be down to how Tony Pulis is playing him, he’s maybe not suited and he’s playing out of his natural position when he is playing.

“It looks like the inevitable will happen. It looks like he’s going to move before the end of this window and it’s just about the two clubs agreeing a price. As Tony Pulis said there, it’s down to Jeremy Peace to agree a fee with Mike Ashley.”

United are hopeful of brokering a quick deal for Berahino in the next 48 hours, although Albion are prepared to haggle for the best price.